Flush-tank.



W. F. DREW.

FLUSH TANK. Y v APPLICATION FILED 0UT.18, 1912. 1,1 1 5,791. PatentedNov. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A i 77?. e z Inventor: b A

Atm/f THE NORRIS PETERS Co., PHOTOYLITHO., WASHING rDN, D. C4

W. F. DREW.

FLUSH TANK. APPLICATION FILED 00121-8, 1912.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor: @M

Attjf WW by MMM., @Y

THE MORRIS PETERS Cv.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, DA c W. P. DREW.

PLUSH TANK.'

- APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 1,1 15,791 1B 1m Patented Nov. 3, 1914 aSHEETS-SHEET s.

N N Q Y Q w w El i.' l E r THE MORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTOALITHO..WASHINCFUN, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

WARREN F. DREW, OF'BORIDENTOWN, NEW JERSEY, `.ASSIGNOR- TO ROTICOFITTING &

SUPPLY COMPANY, NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLUSH-TANK.

` Specification of Letters 'Pa-tent.

Patented Nov. 3,1914.

T all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WARREN F. DREW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bordentown, in the county of Burlington and State of NewJersey, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements in` Flush-`Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fiush tanks intended for use in connectionwith water` closets and for similar purposes, and its nov-` eltyconsists in the construction and adaptation of the parts as will behereinafter more .fully pointed out.

Flush tanks as usually made are provided with an outlet valve, anoverflow pipe, and

a water supply system. The overiiow pipe is of necessity connected withthe outlet pipe below the outlet valve opening, and consequently leadsdirectly to the connections to the sewer and, being always open, affordsan opportunity for the escape into the flush tank of sewer gas, shouldsuch gas existin the drainage system. It has alwaysbeen desirable toprovide such an `overflow pipe with a valve but, in the usualconstructions, this has proven to be impracticable and the danger fromthe back-flow of sewer gas into the building has commonly not beenavoided and the opening into the overflow pipe has not' been closed.Usually also the outlet apertures of such tanks have been placed at theside of the tank slightly labove the bottom, this for convenience in`construction or erection. T"Vhen outlet apertures are placed in thisposition, it is very diiicult to clean the tanks and if the watersupplied therein is of such a nature that sediment is depositedtherefrom, such sediment usually accumulates until the tanks arethoroughly dirty and then they have tobe cleaned out through a specialoutlet opening or by hand, as the case may be.

The purpose of my invention is to over come these disadvantages and I dothis by placing the outlet aperture at the bottom of the tank and in aplane below the level of such bottom. This aperture is opened and sealedby a valve which is so connected to the devices forming the watersupplying means that the one valve serves as a flush valve down into thewater-closet bowl, as a reflush valve adapted to supply a small amountof water` to such bowl necessary to form a water seal, and also as anoverflow1 `F ig. 1 showing the rwhen the water in the Application filedOctober 1S, 1912. Serial No. 726,406.

valve, so that under normal conditions, when the tank is full of water,there is no oppor-Y trinity7 for gases from the drainage system or sewerto pass back into the tank and consequently into the room in which it isplaced. f

i In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central ver? tical section through thetank and the valve, other parts being shown in elevation, and theposition of the parts being that which 1s assumed when the tank isalmost full of water; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown inFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to position of the parts tank has beenlowered to a point where the valve is about to autor the parts shown inFigg; Fig. 5 similar to Fig. 1 showing the postionof the parts when thewater inthe tank has been raised to such a point vthat the valve isabout to be opened to permitl` of the refiushing of the water closetbowl with which it is connected; and` Fig. 6 is a plan'k view of some ofthe parts beneaththe pla-ne ofthe une e-e in Fig. 5. f f

1n the drawings, 10 is a iiush tank of any suitable form andconstruction and intended to be set in a relatively low positioni1nmediately over and at the back of the watercloset bowl to be suppliedtherefrom.` It has an outlet aperture indicated at l2 in its bottom.This aperture is surrounded by an annular Hange plate 13 set into thebottom and which is'provided with a suitable valve seat comprisingarecessed annular rubber gasket 130.

Leading into anysuitable place .in the tank there is provided a watersupply pipe' 15 terminating in an elbow-fitting 16 which is connected toa rotary valve indicatedat y 17, and which in turn 1s connected to an'vinlet pipe 18 to which at a proper placve'is se,-l cured a fioat, forinstance, a hollow metal globe 19. The valve 17 may be `of any usualform provided it is so arranged that it iskr adapted to be opened tosupply water from* the pipe 15 to the pipe 18 when the latter l l 1slowered, and is adapted to be 'closed to shut olf such supplywhenthepipey 18 is raised to a predetermined point. 'valvey suitable forsuch use is' described in Letters' Patentof the United States No.1,007,009,

issued October, 1911; n

A. valve 2O is provided to control the valve CIK aperture 12 in thebottom of the tank It comprises a tubular body 21 having` acircumferential annular llange 22 and internally provided with atransverse plate 23 provided with upwardly projecting ears 241, to whichis pivoted a valve stem 25 in the form of a flat bar. The valve is alsoprovided on opposite sides with a pair of lugs or brackets 26, 'fromeach of which outwardly projects a shoe 27. Similar shoes 28 are securedto or made integral with the body 21. rlhese shoes are recessed and areadapted slidably to engage a pair of upright guides 29, 29 suitablysecured to the bottom of the tank or to the flange plate 13. A cross bar30 connects the upper ends of these posts and serves to rigidly spacethem apart. rEhis also serves in connection with the upper ends ot thelugs 26 as a stop to limit the upward movement of the valve 20.

.Projecting through the outer wall of the tank 10 at any suitable placeis a push rod 33, the inner end of which is adapted to engage one arm 31o1c an elbow lever, the other arm 35 of which is adapted to pass throughand loosely engage an aperture 36 in a depending link 37 which, at itslower extremity, is connected by a pivot 38 to a latch lever 39 which inturn is connected by a pivot 10 to the valve stem 25. This lever 39 isadapted to loosely rest against the upper side of the cross bar 30 andits extremity 390 is restrained against vertical movement by a stopmember 41 having an inwardly projecting flange 42 adapted to loosely theupper portion of that end of the lever. rlf'he arm 34 is pivoted to abracket 45 suitably secured to the outer wall of the tank. Thearrangement of these parts is such that when the push rod 33 is moved inwardly it contacts 1 with the arm 34C, and thereby moves upward theelbow lever which in turn moves upward the link 3T, and this in turnmoves the latch lever until the latter is in a vertical position whenits foot or end 390 rests upon the cross bar 30 and serves as ay supportfor the link and the elbow lever. 1t will be noted that the foot or end390 'of the latch lever 39 has a sliding cam movement on the seat orcross bar 30 when the latch lever is turned. This movement has raisedthe valve 20 to its uppermost position and completely moved it away fromthe annular flange pla-te 13 so that any water in the tank will flow outfreely therefrom.

liuitably and detachably secured to the in let pipe 18 by a strap 4:50and set screw #l5 is a trip 47` arranged in the same vertical plane as alatch 50 secured to the latch lever 39. This connection is made bycutting out an aperture 51 in the latch, through which projects a screw52 from the latch lever 39. thumb nut 53 serves to make the connectionsecure. By this means the latch may be adjustably secured to the latchlever and moved to such position as may be most convenient' underdillerent circumstances ol' equipment. l

Assuming that the push button has been actuated as above stated, andthat the valve has thus been raised to allow the water to escape fromthe tank, as the level of the water is lowered, the 'float 19 is therebylowered and allows the inlet pipe 18 slowly to fall. As the trip 17 isin the plane of the latch 50, when the trip contacts with the latch, theweight of the pipe 18 causes the latch to be depressed and this movesthe latch lever 39 away from the cross bar 30, upon which it has beensupported, and allows the valve 20 to drop by gravity into its seat,thus closing the tank and forming an automatic means by which, when thevalve is lifted and the water runs out and is lowered in the tank, thevalve is closed at a predetermined point determined by the position ofthe trip L17 on the inlet pipe 18, and olf the latch 50 on the latchlever 39.

ln the lowermost position of the inlet pipe 18, the valve 17 is openedand permits the water to flow from the inlet pipe into the tank. As thelevel of the water is raised, the trip 47 is brought into contact withthe pivot 38 connecting the link 37 with the latch lever 39, and thisconstitutes an element that is moved upwardly by the float. When thusmoved, it slightly lifts the link, and through it the valve stem 25, andraises the valve enough to, allow a small quantity of water to ilowthrough the aperture in the bottom of the tank just sufficient toreflush the water-closet bowl and serve as a seal. es the watercontinues to rise and the inlet pipe 18, under the inuence of thebuoyancy of its float 19, also continues to rise, the pipe 18 is broughtto a position where the supply of water is cut ol-l. Should it occur,however, or any reason, that through a derangement of the parts thiswater supply is not cut olf and the level of the water in the tankcontinues to rise, then the continued elevation of the pipe 18 willbring the trip 37 into contact with an arm GO adjustably secured by ascrew and thumb nut to the link 37, and this engagement being continuedthe link will be lifted sutliciently to open the valve 20 and allow thewater to escape therefrom until it reaches its norma-l level.

lt will thus be seen that the parts are so arranged that the movement ofthe inlet pipe 18 up and down, varying with the supply ol' water to thetank, will serve in turn to actuate the valve 20 as a reliush valve andas an overllow valve, and that after the push rod 33 has been actuatedand the level of the water lowered, that the lowering of the pipe 18acting against the latch 50 will cause the same valve 20 to act as ashut-ott valve. lt should also be noted that by holding the push rod atits innermost position, a complete emptying of the tank can be readilyaccomplished, and vits thoroughcleansing thus secured. Wh at l claim is:y

l. The combination witha flush tank having an outlet, of a valvecontrolling the outlet, a lock for holding the valve open,means formanually moving the valve to an open position and operating the lock topositively hold said valve open, a float movable downwardly with thelevel of the water in the tank and having means engaging and op- @ratingthe lock to permit the valve to again close, and means carried by thefloat and engaging the moving means of the valve to cause said i'loat asit rises to again open the valve and again release it as the tankrefills.

2. The combination with a flush tank having an outlet, of a valvecontrolling the outlet, a lock for holding the valve open, means formanually moving the valve to an open position and operating the lock topositively hold said valvexopen, a 'loat movable down- -wardly with thelevel' of the water in the tank and having means engaging and operatingthe lock to permit the valve to again close, and means carried by thefloat and detachably engaging directly with the valve opening means tocause the lioat as it rises to reopen the valve for a short period andthen release it to permit it to again close as the tank refills.

3. The combination with a liush tank having an outlet, of a valvecontrolling the outlet, a lock for holding the valve open, means formanually moving the valve to an open position and operating the lock topositively hold said valve open, a float movable down` wardly with thelevel ot the water in the tank and having means that engages andoperates the lock to permit the valve to again close, a device movingwith the float, and an element connected with the valve operating meansand movable into the path of said device when the valve closes, saiddevice engaging and then disengaging the element upon the rising of theiioat to reopen the valve and again permit it to close.

4l. The combination with a tank having an outlet, of a valve controllingthe outlet, a float that rises and falls with the level of the water inthe tank, said iloat having an arm that moves with it, means formanually operating the valve and automatically holding it open, saidmeans including a device that is moved into the path of the arm beneaththe same when the valve is opened and is struck `by saidv arm asitimoves downwardly to release the valve to permit it to close, andanother device forming a part of the said operating means and movinginto the path of tliearm above the same when the valve closes, said armengaging the latter device and reopening the valve when the Hoat rises.

5., The combination with a tank havingy an outlet, yof ya valvecontrolling the outlet, a float thatl rises and falls with the level ofthe iwater inthe tank, said float having an arm that moves with it,means for manually operating the valve and automatically holding itopen, said means including a latch lever vpivoted between its ends, thelatch lever having a portion on one side ofits pivot that moves into thepath of thelfloat arm beneath the same when the valve is opened and isengaged by said arm to swing said lever and release the valve, and saidlever having a portion on the other side of its pivot that movesinto thepath of the armand above the same when the valve is released, said armengaging the latterportion of the latch lever and reopening the valvewhen the float rises.

6. The combination with a valve, of an operating device, a swinginglever latch pivotally connected to the valve and to the operating deviceand having an extension provided with a free bearing portion, and astationary seat on which the extension of the lever latch has a cambearing during the opening of the valve and` on which said eX- tensionbears when the valve is open.

7. The combination with a valve, oli' an operating device, a swinginglever latch pivotally connected between its ends tothe valve, and havingone end connected to the operating device, anda stationary seat on whichthe other end of the lever latch has a slidable cam bearing to lift thevalve when the latch is turned. y

8. The -combination with a vertically moving valve, of a verticallymoving link located above the same, a swinging lever pivoted between itsends to the valve and having one end pivoted to the link, and aystationary seat beneath the lever on which the other end of said leverhas a sliding cam bearing, said lever being movable to a substantiallyupright position. with said end resting' thereon to hold thevalve open.

9. The combination with spaced guides, oil a valve slidably mountedbetween the same, a seat supportedby the guides, an operating device,and a swinging connection betweenthe valve and operating device having acam bearing on the seat.

10. The ycombination with spaced guides, of a connection between theupper ends of the guides constituting a seat, a valve slidably mountedbetween the guides, an operating link, and a swinging lever latchpivoted between its ends to the valve and having' one end pivoted to thelink, the other end of said lever latch having a sliding cam bearing onthe seat.

l1. The combination with a valve, of an operating device, a swinginglever latch pivsok otally connected to the valve and to the 0peratingdevice and having an extended free cam bearing portion, a stationaryseat on which said bearing portion turns during the opening of the valveand on which it rests when the valve is open, a device projecting fromsaid bearing portion, and a float that engages said device to nio-veitfrom its position to release thc valve.

12 The combination with a valve, of an operating device therefor, aswinging lever latch pivotally connected between its ends to the valveand having one end pivoted to the operating device, a stationary seat onwhich the other end of the lever latch has a sliding cam hearing and onwhich it rests when the valve is open, said latter end having anextension projecting laterally therefrom, and a float that is arrangedto strike said extension and Swing the lever latch to a position torelease the valve.

13. The combination with a valve member, of a seat member, a lever latchpivoted between its ends to one member and having at one end a slidingcam bearing on the other member, andan operating device connected to thelever latch to turn the same and thereby effect the said cam action.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WARREN F. DREW.

. W'itnesses:

MARY H. LEWIS, ALAN C. MCDONNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

